TL;DR
Nissan is taking a cautious, demand-led approach to its EV strategy in India, prioritizing market study and strengthening its ICE vehicle portfolio while observing EV adoption trends.
Nissan is adopting a patient and demand-driven strategy for its electric vehicle (EV) rollout in India, opting to study consumer needs rather than aggressively pushing electrification. Thierry Sabbagh, who oversees Nissan and Infiniti in India and other global regions, emphasized that the company believes EV adoption should be led by consumer demand, factoring in aspects like cost, usability, and charging infrastructure.
This cautious approach is informed by the current market landscape where EVs represent only about 4% of India's passenger vehicle market, despite a significant 77% year-on-year growth in 2025 to approximately 176,800 units. Nissan's global EV legacy, including the LEAF, is recognized, but the company aims to align its offerings with local buyer preferences for range, charging access, and service readiness.
While monitoring EV adoption, Nissan is also focusing on strengthening its core business with new volume models like the recently launched Gravite seven-seater MPV and the upcoming Tekton C-SUV in mid-2026. The company plans to expand its retail network to 250 outlets by the end of the current fiscal year and targets crossing 1 lakh unit exports in FY2026-27, reinforcing its manufacturing base for future electrification efforts.
